Method of and apparatus for producing bags



Feb. 10, 1942. G. A. ROBINSON- METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS Filed March 11} 1941 INVENTOR M a. Rm BY a fim l zCmdlzQ 'AITORN Y Patented Feb. 10, 1942 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS George A. Robinson, Milton, Mass., assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,688

15 Claims.

' This invention relates toa method of and apparatus for producing bags.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved method of and apparatus for the production of tea, coifee and similar bags in an emcient, economical, rapid and practical manner.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the method of and apparatus for the production of bags of .the character specified hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of'this specification.

In the drawing illustrating the present method and a preferred form of apparatus for practicing the same in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, the upper portion of the apparatus being shown in cross-section as viewed from the line 2-2; and Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view to be referred to,

In general, the present invention contemplates a method and apparatus for practicing the same, for forming tea, cofiee and similar bags wherein a strip of bag forming material in the form of a series of connected bag sections open. at their tops are successively filled by the introduction of the commodity through hollow filling members mounted to be inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof. The strip is moved into registered relation to a cutterby the engagement of the hollow filling members with the interior of the bag section at the forward side seams thereof. Provision is also made for gripping each bag severed by the cutter and moving it into a position to be sealed at its top and preferably heat sealed.

Referring now to the drawing illustrating a preferred form of apparatus for practicing the present method, If! represents a roll of the'bag forming material which may and preferably will comprise paper of the character now usedin the production of tea bags, but which may comprise any of the other bag forming materials suited for such purposes. The bag forming material is first formed into the form of a strip comprising. a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, and as illustrated herein, such a strip may be formed by first preparing the web l with stencilled strips of thermoplastic along the iongitudinal side edges l4, l6 and in transverse strips l8 spaced in accordance with the width of the individual bags to be produced. The strip of material thus prepared is passed through suitable forming mechanism for folding the strip longitudinally and such mechanism may-include the forming operation in order to facilitate the insertion of the filling members at a subsequent station. As illustrated-in detail in Fig. 3, such spreading means may comprise a stationary vshaped member 24 suitably supported above the strip and disposed between .the upper edges oi the strip as-shown.

After the folding operation has been performed, provision is made for heat sealing the adjacent transverse portions I8 in order to provide side seams 26 between adjacent bag forming sections 28. As herein illustrated, the heat sealing mechanism may include a. pair of driven rollers 80, 32

having raised portions 34 thereon arranged to' vided with a heating element indicated generally at 36 which is arranged to heat the roller 30 to perform the heat sealing operation. It will be observed that each roller 30, 32 is provided with two opposed raised portions 34, the corresponding raised portions of each roller being arranged to cooperate to perform the heat sealing operation as the strip of bag forming material is advanced and during the rotation of the rollers. The circumferential spacing of the raised portions is substantially equal to the pitch distance between the intervening web portions 26 and in operation, the rollers are rotated in timed relation to the rate of movement of the strip through any suitable driving mechanism including the gearing connections indicated generally at 38.

The thermoplastic sealing material may and preferably will be of a quick setting character so that the web portions 26 may be thoroughly a V-shaped forming member or shoe 20 and a pair of idler rolls 22. Provision is also made for dry and securely attached when the strip is advanced to the filling and registering mechanism, indicated generally at 40. If desired, in practice, the registering mechanism may be disposed at a substantial distance from the heat sealing elements 30, 32 in order to further insure that the web portions 26 are sufficiently dry and tightly sealed when the strip arrives at the registering mechanism.

As herein shown, the filling and registering mechanism 40 comprises a plurality of funnel shaped filling members 42 carried by an endless chain 44 arranged to run over sprockets 46, 46 one of which may be driven through any usual or preferred driving mechanism, not shown. The filling members 42 are equally spaced along the chain, the distance between successive members being equal to the distance between successive bag sections 28. Successive filling members are arranged to entertheir respective bag sections substantially midway between the side seams 26 in a manner analogous to sprocket teeth entering between the links of a chain and are thereafter rapidly moved to cause the filling members to engage the forward side seam of the bag sections and to advance the strip in timed relation and in properly registered position with respect to the heat sealing elements 30, 32 and with respect to a cutter for severing successive bag sections from the strip.

In operation, the end of a filling member 42 is arranged to enter its respective bag section as it is being carried around the sprocket 46 and at a point substantially centrally of its bag section. As the strip is advanced by the preceding filling members, the partially introduced member is swung around from its angular and substantially radial position with relation to its sprocket to a substantially vertical position, in which position the member engages the interior of the forward side seam of its bag section to move the strip along.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, when a funnel shaped filling member 42 is inserted into its respective bag, it is arranged to pass a continuously operating feeding device, as indicated generally .at 50, adapted to feed a substantially uniform stream of the commodity to be packaged. Each funnel 42 is provided with flared edges 52 at its upper end which are arranged to overlap the flared edges of a succeeding funnel, as shown in Fig. 1, so that in operation, the continuously advancing funnels 42 being advanced at a constant rate of speed, are each provided with a predetermined quantity of the tea or other material being packaged. The material thus deposited in a funnel is permitted to gradually pass through an opening 54 provided at the lower end thereof, into its respective bag section as it is being moved along. Thus the strip may be continuously advanced during the filling operational forms oi! a continuously operating strip feeding device. Thus, coincidence of the members 30, 32 with the sealing strips I 3 is assured.

Provision is made for severing the strip at the side seams 26 in order to form individual bag sections, and for this purpose any suitable cutter may be employed. As herein shown, this operation may be performed by a pair of shears 60 arranged to be moved along with the strip and to cut the endmost side seam during the forward movement thereof. The shears 60 may and'preierably will be slidably mountedupon a longitudinally disposedshaft 62 and, in operation, after an endmost bag has been severed during the forward movement or the shears with the strip, the shears maybe brought back until they coincide with the next succeeding side seam 26 whereupon the sheets are again moved forwardly at the same rate as the strip, during which time another severing operation is performed. Any usual or preferredmechanism (not shown) may be provided for actuating the shears and for reciprocating the shearing unit in timed relation to the movement of the strip.

It will be observed that each filling member 42, in engagement with the forward edge of the interior of its individual bag section, eflects positive registration of its bag section with relation 1 inserted in an adiacent succeeding bag will opercase where a stationary filling device might be used. The strip may be supported along its bottom or folded edge, as it is advanced, by any suitable supporting means, such as a narrow trough or guide member 56, as shown in Fig. 1.

ate to advance-the strip into proper register. In the'event that the pitch distance of a preceding bag section is less than normal, it will be seen that thefilling member inserted in the adjacent succeeding bag section will not engage the forward edge ofthe interior of its bag section until the preceding and, subnormal bag section has been severed, and when this occurs, the strip 7 will momentarily lag until the filling member in From the description thus far it will be observed that in operation, the continuously moving filling members operate to move the strip along at a predetermined rate of speed, and as hereinbeiore described, the heat sealing members 30, 32 are operated in timed relation to the movement of the strip so that the cooperating raised portions 34 will coincide with the transverse strips 18 of thermoplastic adhesive to form the bag sections, as described. It will also be observed that the members 30, 32 do not effect feeding of the strip but merely engage the strip at predetermined points as it is drawn therepast.

The cut out portions 33 in the rolls permit the are efiective to compensate for any inadvertent irregularity in the spacing between adjacent web portions 26. Since each-entering filling member is arranged to take up the feed of the strip, any irregularity in spacing of the preceding bag sections will not be multiplied in the succeeding bag sections as would occur if the strip were being the adjacent succeeding bag section engages the side seam 26 to continue the feedthereof in proper registered relation .to the cutter. Thus, any slight variation between the pitch distance of the filling members and the succeeding bag sections will not be multiplied and correct registration assured.

substantially simultaneously with the severance of the endmostbag section Iromthe strip, as above described, theforward edge of the severed bag section is gra'sjped between rippers .10, 12 and advanced to. a'position to be operated upon by mechanism for sealing. the upper edges of the bag. As herein shown, the. grippers 10, II are carried upon endless, chains", I8 which run over advanced at a definite rate by means of convensprockets I8, 80. A plurality of gripper pads are carried upon each chainin spaced relation and in operatiomthe pad onone chainregisters with the pad ofthe other chain to grip the leading edge of the severed bag section; Provision may be made for driving the cooperating gripper chains 14, 16 in timed relation to the arrival of a bag-section to be advanced, and the chains are preferably arranged to travel at a faster rate than the strip in order that the severed bag may be carried away from the end of the strip as illustrated in Fig. 1.

As herein shown, it will be observed that the ered bag section carried by the'grippers' I0, I2 is such as to accommodate the increase in velocity of the end of the filling member as it is carried around the sprocket so that such member will not interfere with the sealed side seams of the bag.

The mechanism for sealing the open top of the bag sections mayand preferably will comprise a pair of driven rollers 82, 84 one of which may be .provided with an electrical heating element -88 as shown in Fig. 2. The rollers 82, 84 are mounted upon the sprocket shafts 88, 90 over which the chains l4, 16 are arranged to run, and the shafts, as herein shown, may be connected together by gears 92, 94 to run at the same speed. As illustrated in Fig. 2, it will be observed that the gripper pads 10, 12 retain their grasp upon heat sealing rollers 82, 84 whereupon the rollers operate to press and seal the top edges of thebag together to complete the production of the bag.

From the above description of the invention, it will be observed that the present method and the apparatus for practicing the same enables the production of individual filled and sealed bags for tea, coffee and similar material in an efiicient, economical and rapid manner} While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for making and filling bags,

in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow-filling members mounted to be successively inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof and to be moved after insertion into a bag section into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter, and gripping means for gripping and moving the severed bag section from said strip.

2. In apparatus for making'and filling bags, in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow filling members mounted to be successively inserted into succesrelated to one another to enable the gripping member to be withdrawn from the bag section.

a 3. In combination, means for forming bag forming material into a strip having a closed bottom and open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely atpredetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, a cutterfor severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow filling members mounted to be successively inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof and to be nigger! after insertion into a bag section into engage ent with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter,

'-and 'gripping means for gripping and moving the bag section until it is gripped between the the severed bag section from said strip.

4. In apparatus for making and filling bags, in

combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of-members mounted to be successively inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof and'to be moved after insertion into a bag section into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to 'move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter, and gripping means for gripping-and moving the severed bag section from said strip.

5. In apparatus for making and filling bags, in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected Bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow filling members each mounted to be inserted into the bag section through the central portion of the open top thereof and then moved into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter, and gripping means for gripping and moving the severed bag section from said strip.

6. In apparatus for making and filling'bags, in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow members each mounted to be inserted into a bag section through the open top thereof and then moved into engagement with the forward side seam of the bag section to move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter,-

said hollow filling member being mounted to be moved at a higher speed with relation to the speed of the strip during the inserting operation and until the hollow member has engaged the" forward side seam to be thereafter moved at the sive bag sections through the tops thereof and to be moved after insertion intoa bag section into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move the strip into a I position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the. cutter, and gripping means for gripping and moving the severed bag section from said strip, the movement of said hollow filling members and the movement of the gripper being speed of the strip.

7. The combination with means for filling a plurality of connected bag-sections including a plurality of funnels mounted to dispose the lower portion of a funnel in each of a plurality of said v plane to operatively engage the forward portion of its bag section to effect movement of the strip, a cutter movable with the strip and arranged to sever successive endmost bag sections at said side seams, each of said hollow filling members being arranged to move its respective bag secof movable funnels arranged to move with the 7 bag sections, a cutter for severing successive filled bag sections, and movable grippers for gripping the bag sections as they are severed by the cutter, said grippers being arranged to be moved at a speed slightly above that of the speed of movement of the funnels.

9. The combination with means for filling a plurality of connected bag sections including a plurality of funnels mounted to disposed the lower portion of a funnel in each of a plurality of bag sections, a cutter, means for moving the funnels to move said bag sections into registered position with relation to the cutter, and movable grippers for gripping the bag sections severed by the cutter, said grippers being moved at a speed greater than the speed of movement of the funnels.

10. In apparatus for making and filling bags, in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow filling members mounted to be successively inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof and to be moved after insertion into a bag section into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter, and gripping means for gripping and moving the, severed bag section from said strip, each of said hollow filling members being adapted to move its respective bag section into predetermined registered relation to said severing means irrespective of variations in the distance between successive side seams of the strip.

11. In apparatus for making and filling bags, in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connectedbag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow filling members mounted to be successively inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof and to be moved after insertion into a bag section into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move, the strip into a position to register'the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter, a stationary member arranged to spread the top edges of the strip to facilitate the introduction of said hollow filling members, and

gripping means for gripping and moving the severed bag section from said strip.

12. In apparatus for making and filling bag in combination, means for forming bag forming material into a strip having a closed bottom and open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side means of a series of bag sections, means for moving said strip comprising a plurality of equally spaced hollow filling members, means for moving'said members through an arc to cause successive filling members to enter successive bag sections in thecenter thereof and for thereafter progressively moving the filling members in ahorizontal tion into predetermined registered relation to said cutter irrespective of variations in the distance between said side seams.

13. In a method of making individual filled bags, the steps comprising forming bag forming material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and open top, sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predeter-J mined spaced intervals to form the side seams of series of equally spaced hollow filling members into successive bag sections and into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seams thereof whereby to move the strip to present succeeding portions of the strip in predetermined relation to said transverse sealing means and to present preceding portions of the strip into predetermined relation to a cutter, depositing charges of a commodity through said filling members while being thus moved, and severing successive endmost bag sections thus registered. with the cutter.

14. In the method of making individual filled and sealed bags from a strip of material previously provided with a coating of thermoplastic material at selected portions thereof corresponding to the bag sections to be formed, the steps comprising folding the strip longitudinally into substantially U-shape, heat sealing adjacent portions of the strip transversely at said selected portions to form a series of bag forming sections open at the top and connected by sealed side seams, successively introducing a series of filling members spaced in accordance with said bag sections into successive bag sections, moving said filling members into engagement with the forward edge of the interior of their respective bag sections to move the succeeding portions of the strip into predetermined relation to the heat sealing means, and to move the preceding portions of the strip intopredetermined relation to a cutter, depositing a charge of material through said filling members and into successive bag sections while thus being moved, successively severing the endmost bag sections thus registered with the cutter to produce an individual bag section open at its top, withdrawing the registering member from said individual bag section, and thereafter heat sealing the open top edges of the bags to complete the production "thereof.

15. In apparatus for making and filling bags, in combination, means for operatively supporting a strip of bag forming material comprising a series of connected bag sections open at their tops, a cutter for severing a bag section from the strip, a plurality of hollow filling members spaced in accordance with said bag sections and mounted to be successively inserted into successive bag sections through the tops thereof and to be moved after insertion into a bag section into engagement with the rear edge of the forward side seam thereof to move the strip into a position to register the aforesaid side seam with relation to the cutter, and gripping means for gripping and moving the severed bag section from said strip.

GEORGE A. ROBINSON. 

